Task A2 | R

​ esearch plan 
🔎 What? 
 
❗Why? 
 
Construct a research plan, which states and prioritizes the  You want to identify valuable sources of information to 
primary and secondary research needed to develop a solution  provide input for your project (now and later) and you want to 
to the problem.  make sure you balance your research efforts over the different 
areas of research that are needed.  

⚙ How? 
 
Adjust and extend the provided partial research plan in order to: 
● Identify​ primary and secondary sources that you could consult in order to be a knowledgeable designer in this project, 
ready to design and create. Use the following prompts: 
○ You can make observations, do measurements and experiments. 
○ You can interview (experienced) experts or other stakeholders in your project. 
○ You can survey your target audience. 
○ You can consult secondary sources. 
● Describe​ what you want to learn from each of these sources in detail. 
● Prioritize​ the importance of each part of your research (you may not have time to do it all!). 
● Research​ and find out the answers! P ​ resent​ all research notes from your research in the table below. This section can 
contain pieces of text directly copy-pasted from sources, results of surveys, photographs, transcripts of interviews etc. 

Research Plan + Research 

Research questions  What is the answer?  Where could I find  Prioritization 
an answer?   * = Good to 
What type of  know   
source is it?  ** = Useful   
Primary or  *** = Directly 
useful   
Secondary? 
**** = Vital  
 

PROPERTIES:  ● Cotton is prized for its comfort, easy-care,  Online   *** 

[***] What properties (or  and affordability and is ideal for clothing,
characteristics) of a fabric 
determine what you can do with  ●
it?  Products
   
bedding, towels, and furnishings. ​(Cotton  Cotton Fibers and 
Fibers)  its Properties 
Characteristics of Cotton Fibers and  (secondary) 
   
○ Comfortable to wear   
○ Natural, cellulosic fiber  Fabric 
○ Absorbs water and “breathes”  Characteristics for 
○ Slow to dry  Garment 
○ Resists static electricity build-up  Manufacturing 
○ Wrinkles easily  (secondary) 
○ Can withstand heat, detergents, 
and bleach 
○ About 20% stronger when wet 
than dry 
○ Will shrink unless treated 
○ Can be damaged by mildew 
○ Can be damaged by prolonged 
exposure to sunlight ​(Fabric 
Characteristics) 

DEFINITIONS​:    Dictionary.com   
● What is a ​fabric​?   ● A fabric is the cloth that is made from   
knitting, stitching and weaving textile  * 
● What are ​textiles​? 
fibres.    
● What are ​garments​?     
● A textile is a woven type of cloth.   ** 
    
● A garment is an item of clothing, anything  ** 
that someone can wear.  

MANUFACTURING    How cotton is made  ** 

● How are cotton textiles  ● After the cotton is de-seeded, it is cleaned,  - production   
spun and woven into fabric.   process, history,  *** 
made?  
● Stitching and sewing are possible  used, processing, 
● What are the basic  examples of assembly methods for fabric.  parts, steps, 
joining and assembly    industry, machine, 
methods​ to attach  History 
pieces of fabric   
 
together? 
How Products are 
Made. "How Cotton 
Is Made." How 
Products Are Made, 
 
www.madehow.co
m/Volume-6/Cotton
.html. Accessed 24 
Feb. 2020.  

TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS  ● A pattern is a template or design for an  What is a pattern  ** 
FOR MAKING  item of clothing. A sewing pattern is made  (Wikipedia)   
● How do you draw a  by taking your measurements and drawing     
lines that show the measurements on a  Wikipedia. "Pattern   
sewing​ ​pattern​? What  large piece of paper, or you can trace a  (sewing)."   
are the key features of  garment that has the pattern or template  Wikipedia, 9 Feb.   
a good garment  you want.   2020,   
pattern?  ● The materials provided in the appendix are  en.wikipedia.org/wi *** 
as follows:  ki/   
● What​ materials and 
tools​ do I have  Tools and materials   
Pattern_(sewing). 
 
 
available for making my 
product? (see Appendix 
provided by the school  Accessed 24 Feb. 
2020.  
A below)   
● Thread (polyester and cotton and waxed)  How to Make Your 
● Eyelets   Own Sewing 
● Studs  Patterns (with 
● Rivets  Pictures) 
(Wikihow) 
● Snap fasteners 
 
● Velcro (sew-on and stick on)  WikiHow. "How to 
● Anything you request that is approved by  Make Your Own 
the teacher.  Sewing Patterns." 
Wikihow, edited by 
● Fabric glue 
WikiHow, 
● Contact adhesive (Elmer’s multi-purpose  WikiHow, 
spray adhesive)  www.wikihow.com/
● Sewing machine (Brother JA1450NT)  Make-Your-Own-Se
● Needles  wing-Patterns. 
Accessed 24 Feb. 
● Seam ripper 
2020.  
● Fabric shears   
● Rotary cutter   
● Hole punch   
● Rivet/eyelet setter and die   
Appendix A (below) 
 
  

 
 
The materials I will have to provide for 
myself include: 
 
Fabric and materials you 
need to provide yourself 
● Anything you can reclaim from garments 
otherwise thrown away. This will not be 
provided. You need to bring it in from 
home. 
● Straps, buckles, buttons etc that you can 
reclaim from garments otherwise thrown 
away. 
● Do not buy fabric! 
 

CLIENT INFORMATION      ** 

● Who could I design for?   ● I will be designing for my own use  Myself (primary)   
● I represent tweens, young adults, but still  ** 
● What group (​target 
kids.    
audience​) does this    ** 
person represent?   ● I like darker colours, music, art, and 
● What material  Stranger Things (series). I prefer things 
properties or aesthetic  that will be directly useful, or maybe multi 
purposeful to me.  
factors need to be 
taken into account for 
this client? (What kind 
of colours and style do 
they like?) 

 
  

 
 

A2 Assessment 
Level  Descriptor  Typical features of student work 

0  The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors below. 

1-2  The student ​states​ s​ ome​ research needed to  ❏ A limited amount of sources and information is stated which 
develop a solution to the problem, ​with  makes it difficult to find the answers to the research 
some guidance​.  questions. Some sections were incomplete. Be sure to review 
your work for completeness. 
❏ There is only one type of source used in your research. Both 
primary and secondary sources are needed. 
❏ You did not prioritize your research in your planning. 
Prioritization is important for organising your research. 

3-4  The student ​states​ the research needed to  ❏ Some sources and information are stated which makes it 
develop a solution to the problem, ​with  challenging to find the answers to the research questions. If 
some guidance.  you identify more sources, you will have a broader 
understanding of the research questions. 
❏ There is only one type of source used in your research. Both 
primary and secondary sources are needed. 
❏ You did not prioritize your research in your planning. 
Prioritization is important for organising your research. 

5-6  The student ​constructs​ a research plan,  ❏ A number of sources and information are stated. You 
which s​ tates​ and p
​ rioritizes​ the primary and  demonstrated that you can find the answers to the research 
secondary research needed to develop a  questions. Even more appropriate sources would strengthen 
solution to the problem, ​with some  your understanding. 
guidance​.  ❏ There are a few types of sources used in your research. 
Having a good variety of sources allows you to get 
information from different viewpoints. 
❏ You prioritized your research in your planning. 

7-8  The student constructs a research plan,  ❏ An effective number of sources and information are stated. 
which s​ tates​ and p
​ rioritizes​ the primary and  You demonstrated that you can find the answers to the 
 secondary research needed to develop a  research questions from a number of relevant sources. 
solution to the problem i​ ndependently​.  ❏ There is an excellent variety of types of sources used in your 
research. Primary and secondary sources provide a broad 
understanding as you move forward. 
❏ You prioritized your research in your planning. This will help 
keep you organised in preparing for the next step of the 
criterion. 

   
Appendix A: Tools and Materials (primary source) 
For this project, you will be provided with the materials and tools listed below. The list is not exhaustive but gives a good idea of 
what is reasonably available. It is up to you to figure out how to use and process them. You will have to make sure you understand 
the properties of the materials and tools you choose in order to make smart design choices for your product. 
 

Fabric and materials you need to provide yourself 

● Anything you can reclaim from garments otherwise thrown away. This will not be provided. You need to bring it in from 
home. 
● Straps, buckles, buttons etc that you can reclaim from garments otherwise thrown away. 
● Do not buy fabric! 
 

Tools and materials provided by the school 

● Thread (polyester and cotton and waxed) 
● Eyelets  
● Studs 
● Rivets 
● Snap fasteners 
● Velcro (sew-on and stick on) 
● Anything you request that is approved by the teacher. 
● Fabric glue 
● Contact adhesive (Elmer’s multi-purpose spray adhesive) 
● Sewing machine (Brother JA1450NT) 
● Needles 
● Seam ripper 
● Fabric shears 
● Rotary cutter 
● Hole punch 
● Rivet/eyelet setter and die